University of Cincinnati Bearcats soar in latest AAC football power rankings

Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Luke Fickell waits for a call from the officials in the third quarter during a college football game between the Navy Midshipmen and the Cincinnati Bearcats, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati. (Photo: Kareem Elgazzar)

Cincinnati made the biggest jump of the week, moving up three spots to No. 2 in the American Athletic Conference football power rankings.

The University of Cincinnati Bearcats football team hosts struggling South Florida before a Nov. 17 East Division showdown at unbeaten Central Florida. In the West, Houston holds a slim one-game lead over SMU and Tulane.

Here is how the league stacks up, according to power rankings compiled by conference reporters, entering Week 11:

1. UCF

Previous ranking: 1 | Points: 144

Record: 8-0 (5-0 AAC)

Last week: defeated Temple, 52-40

This week: vs. Navy

Trajectory: Steady. Quarterback McKenzie Milton returned to the lineup after missing a game with an injury to score four touchdowns as UCF extended its nation-leading winning streak to 21 games.

– Matt Murschel, Orlando Sentinel

2. Cincinnati

Previous ranking: 5 | Points: 126

Record: 8-1 (4-1 AAC)

Last week: defeated Navy, 42-0

This week: vs. USF

Trajectory: Surging. The Bearcats surprised Navy with a 4-4 defensive front and held the Midshipmen’s triple-option offense to 124 yards rushing, a season-low. UC running back Michael Warren II rushed for 68 yards and two touchdowns.

Trajectory: Skidding. Houston could not avoid a trap game as one of the nation’s top offenses was held to season lows for points (31) and yards (365). All-American DT Ed Oliver is on track to return this week after missing two games with a bruised right knee.

– Joseph Duarte, Houston Chronicle

4. Temple

Previous ranking: 3 | Points: 109

Record: 5-4 (4-1 AAC)

Last week: lost to UCF, 52-40

Next game: at Houston

Trajectory: Skidding. Temple’s defense, which was supposed to be its calling card, allowed more than 300 yards rushing and passing in the loss to UCF. Anthony Russo threw for 444 yards, four TDs and scored on a 5-yard run off a fake field goal.

– Marc Narducci, Philadelphia Inquirer/Daily News

5. SMU

Previous ranking: 6 | Points: 94

Record: 4-5 (3-2 in AAC)

Last week: defeated Houston, 45-31

This week: at Connecticut

Trajectory: Surging. Ben Hicks threw for 318 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Mustangs over a ranked Houston for the second time in the last three years. Suddenly, SMU has a legitimate shot to reach bowl eligibility for the second year in a row.

– Joseph Duarte, Houston Chronicle

6. USF

Previous ranking: 4 | Points: 84

Record: 7-2 (3-2 AAC)

Last week: lost to Tulane, 41-15

This week: at Cincinnati

Trajectory: Skidding. After seven consecutive victories against mostly feeble opposition, the Bulls now appear to be a rudderless team. With games against Cincinnati, Temple and UCF remaining, a 7-5 finish is very conceivable.

– Joey Knight, Tampa Bay Times

7. Tulane

Previous ranking: 8 | Points: 78

Record: 4-5 (3-2 AAC)

Last week: defeated South Florida, 41-15

This week: vs. East Carolina

Trajectory: Surging. Tulane had its most lopsided conference road win this century, spotting South Florida a 3-0 lead and then scoring 34 consecutive points to take total control while rushing for 368 yards.

Trajectory: Skidding. Navy hit rock bottom with a lifeless 42-0 loss at Cincinnati. The Midshipmen were never in this game, falling behind 28-0 at halftime. Another quarterback change did nothing to spark the struggling offense.

– Bill Wagner, Baltimore Sun Media Group

10. Tulsa

Previous ranking: 11 | Points: 37

Record: 2-7 (1-4 AAC)

Lastweek: defeated Connecticut, 49-19

This week: at Memphis

Trajectory: Surging. After repeated fourth-quarter meltdowns, the Hurricane built a large-enough lead to play reserves in the final period. Against the worst defense in the country, Tulsa racked up a season-high 638 yards, including 470 on the ground.

– Kelly Hines, Tulsa World

11. East Carolina

Previous ranking: 10 | Points: 32

Record: 2-6 (0-5 AAC)

Lastweek: lost to Memphis, 59-41

This week: at Tulane

Trajectory: Steady. Plug in the next opponent and this time it will be Tulane as a double-digit favorite over the Pirates, who are on a four-game losing streak and will have to pull at least one road upset during their final four games to finish better than 3-9.

– Ronnie Woodward, Greenville (N.C.) Daily Reflector

12. Connecticut

Previous ranking: 12 | Points: 12

Record: 1-8 (0-5 AAC)

Last week: lost to Tulsa, 49-19

This week: vs. SMU

Trajectory: Skidding. At this point, what more is there to say? After losing by 30 points to another one-win team, UConn stands as not only the clear-cut worst team in the American, but also one of the worst teams in the country.